Casting machine



July 3, 1962 BrA. WEIDEMAN ETAL 3,041,687

CASTING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Banana A we"): m;

BY Jcnom: d. Gnorr:

ATTORNEY +w mm. 9: A f 0 w O: O Q m0 W N:

in v a E a IPIFKL i b July 3, 1962 B. A.'WEIDE.MAN ETAL 3,041,637

CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Shed? 2 Filed March 31, 1958 INVENTOR5 Benmxaa A-WEIOIMAN BY JIROME J. Gnu-F Fla. 2

Ar'ronNEv July 3, 1962 B. A. WEIDEMAN EIAL 3,041,687

CASTING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVEN-TORS Seaman A-WEIDEMAN g Ma/W ArronNiY.

Juan: J. Gnom- July 3, 1962 B. A. WEIDEMAN ETAI. 3,04

CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1958 Arrenntv July 3, 1962 B. A. WEIDEMAN EIAL 3,

CASTING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvENToRS BERNARD A.W|:|n:MAN

Janna: J. GROFP WWW A'r'ronuzv July 3, 1962 B. A. WEIDEMAN ETA]. 3,04

CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 51, 1958 INVENTORS BERNARD A. WEIDEMAN By Jason: d. GROFF y 1962 B. A. WEIDEMAN ETAL 3,041,687

' CASTING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1958 7 sheets sheet 7 INVENTORS Bcnnmu A.W|:|o:-MA- BY Jsnom: d- GROFF FIG.I2.

United States Patent f'ice 3,041,687 CASTING MACHINE Bernard A. Weideman, Sussex, and Jerome J. Groif, Milwaukee, Wis, assignors to Globe-Union Inc., Milwaukee, Win, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 725,014 11 Claims. (Cl. 22--79)- This invention relates to casting machines and more particularly to automatic machines for casting grids for storage batteries.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic casting machine having improved operating features particularly adapted for high speed quality production.

Another object is to provide a pouring apparatus for an automatic casting machine which is safe, accurate and easily controlled.

The machine includes two or more separate casting units driven by a single motor and utilizing a common conveyor for transferring the castings from the machine. The machine can be operated by a single operator.

Each unit of the machine includes a sectional mold adapted to be closed for pouring and opened for discharge of a casting therefrom and a reservoir for holding molten lead. The reservoir has an opening therein above the level of the lead from which the mold is poured by means of a displacement member movable relative to the liquid level to raise the level and cause a quantity of molten lead to pour from the opening into the mold.

Molten lead is circulated to the reservoirs from a common retort and means are provided to maintain and adjust the liquid level in each reservoir to thereby control the amount of lead poured into each mold by the movement of the displacement members.

This pouring arrangement affords improved accuracy of temperature and quantity of pour and is extremely well adapted for quick and easy starting and stopping of the units either individually or together without the very troublesome problems encountered in previous machines of this type. Each mold has a carrier means including a swingable carrier member adapted to catch the casting discharged from the mold and carry it to the conveyor for deposit thereon. The operation of the pouring, mold actuating and carrier means of each unit are synchronized by rotating cams mounted on a single camshaft. The cam shafts for the casting units of each machine are driven by a common prime mover to synchronize the units so that the molds are alternately poured and the castings are alternately carried from the molds and deposited on the conveyor.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the twin casting machine with parts of the base broken away to show the apparatus for driving the machine;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the mechanism for opening and closing the mold and for receiving the casting from the mold;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the mold opened and the carrier arm in position to receive the casting from the mold;

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2 showing one position of the actuating cams;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the cams in a difierent position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveyor for transferring the castings from the machine;

Federated July 3, 1962 FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the conveyor shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one of the reservoirs from which the molds are poured;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the reservoir shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. l2 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views taken along line 1313 of FIG. 9 showing two positions of the pouring mechanism of the machine; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 2 showing the means for disconnecting the pouring apparatus from the actuating cam shaft.

The machine (FIG. 1) includes two separate casting units A and B driven by a single motor 10 and gear reducer 12 and utilizing a common conveyor14 (FIGS. 7 and 8) for transferring the castings from the machines. Units A and B are mounted on a suitable frame and are of substantially identical construction and operation with like parts of each referred to by like reference numbers. The units are driven in the proper timed sequence by cam shafts 16 and 18. Shaft 18 is driven directly from a main drive shaft 20 by a chain 22 and shaft 16 is driven from shaft 18 by a chain 24.

Each casting unit can be separately controlled and performs three major operations. The first is the pouring of the proper amount of molten lead into a sectional mold 26; the second is the opening of the mold (and subsequent closing thereof); and the third is the removal of the casting from the mold and the deposit thereof on common conveyor 14.

The apparatus for pouring molds 26 (FIGS. 9-14 for Unit A) includes a substantially L-shaped insulated reservoir 30 (FIG. 9) having a molten lead intake section 32 and a pouring section 34. Molten lead at a controlled temperature is circulated to intake section 32 from a common retort (not shown) through an opening 36 in an insulated cover 38. The temperature of the molten lead in the reservoir isthermostatically controlled by suitable electrical heating elements 40 having terminals housed in terminal boxes 42. v The level of the moltenlead is maintained and controlled by a slidable weir 44 and a stationary partition 46 (FIGS. 11 and 12) mounted across the end of intake section 32. The slidable weir and stationary partition cooperate to form an adjustable dam over which a continuous flow of molten lead back to the retort is maintained during normal operation of the machine. Weir 44- is supported at the end of a depending rod 47 threaded in a bushing 48. Bushing 48 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 50 and has a handle 52 for adjusting the vertical position of weir 44 and thereby the level of the molten lead in reservoir 60-.

Molten lead is poured from the reservoir to the mold by means of a reciprocating displacement member 54 mounted in pouring section 34 of the reservoir. Member 54 is actuated by a cam 56 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) on shaft 16 by means of a bell crank 58 pivotally mounted ona shaft 59 welded to the frame and having a cam follower 60 held in contact with the cam periphery by a spring 62. Member 54 is supported (FIGS. 9, l3 and 14) from a pivotally mounted shaft 64 by arms 66 and depending links 68 extending through a pair of openings in an insulated cover 70 for pouring section 34. Shaft 64 is pivoted to reciprocate the displacement member by a crank 72 at the end of the shaft by means of a link 7d pivotally connected between the free end of hell crank 58 and the free end of crank 72. As displacement member 54- is moved down in the lead (FIG. 13), the level of at the moment it closes.

the lead in pouring section 34 will rise causing a quantity of lead to pour out into mold 26 through an elongated horizontal opening 76 in the'side of the reservoir.

Batfies 78 (FIGS. 13 and 14) depending from cover 70 on opposite sides of member 54 serve to localize the changes in level caused by the action of the displacement member. The battle adjacent opening 76 also serves to reduce the amount of surface impurities in the poured lead by blocking surface flow to the opening and causing clean lead from below the surface to be forced around the bottom of the bafiie and then up and out through opening 76. j

The amount of lead circulated to the reservoir is greater than the amount discharged to the mold resulting in a steady flow of lead back to the retort over adjustable Weir 44. The amount of lead in the reservoir at any one time is considerably greater than the amount forced out of opening 76 by member 54. The result is that the conditions of the lead in the reservoir, i.e. temperature and level, remain very stable whether the displacement discharge mechanism is operating or not. Bafiies 73 and the L-shape of the reservoir-minimize the effect of the action of displacement member at the, adjustable Weir thus affording very accurate adjustment of the amount of each pour by adjustment of the level at the dam. The casting operation can be started and stopped'by simply starting and stopping the action of the displacement member. The continuously circulating lead in the reservoir is always at the proper temperature. There are no valves to open and close and no pipes to be filled and heated when starting or stopping the operation.

Sectional molds 26 include a stationary section 80 and a movable section 82 (FIGS. 3 and 4) removably mounted on a pair of rods 84 to permit interchanging molds as desired. The mold is opened and closed (FIGS.

2, 3 and 4) by sliding section 82 on rods 84 by means of a bracket 86 having arms 88. V Arms 88 are removably attached to section 82 by headed pins 90 on the sides of the movable section seated in grooves 92 in the arms;

Bracket 86 is actuated by a cam 94 (FIGS. 2, and 6) on shaft 16 by means of a lever 96 pivoted at one end to the frame and having a cam follower 98 riding in a groove 100 in one face of cam 94. The movement of lever 96 is transmitted to bracket 86 by a link 102 pivotally connected between the free end of lever 96 and a crank 104 on a shaft 106 journaled in the frame. Shaft 106actuates bracket 86 by means of a second crank 108 on the shaft pivotally connected to the bracket. The actuation of the pouring apparatus and mold opening and closing apparatus are synchronized so that as the mold closes the pour starts to provide lead at the mold This leaves the maximum time remaining to complete the cycle which includes about 2-3 seconds 'for the casting to chill sufiiciently before the mold is opened and the casting discharged.

.The apparatus (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) for receiving the casting from the mold and depositing it on conveyor 14 includes a curved carrier arm 110 pivotally mounted on the frame by a shaft 112 journaled in a bracket 114. A'

receiving bracket 116 fastened to the free end of arm 110 serves to catch the casting 118 dropped from the mold and carry it downwardly (as the arm is pivoted) to conveyor 14. Arm 110 is actuated by a cam 120 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) on shaft 16 by means of a lever 122 pivotallymounted on the frame and having a cam follower 124 urged into contact with the periphery of the down position (FIG. 3) and when the mold is opened bell crank 58 on shaft 59 against the bias of a spring 137 forcing cam follower 60 olf the periphery of cam 56 to thereby stop the pouring apparatus when cylinder 136 is energized. Clutches 132 and 134 will start and stop the mold actuating and casting carrying apparatus, respectively. All three disconnecting means are operated simultaneously to start and stopall operations of the 138 (FIG. 2) mounted on opposite sides of the conveyor.

'conveyorand deposited thereon.

Fingers 138 are adapted to engage lugs 140 on castings 118 as arms 110 swing downwardly to thereby slide the castings from receiving brackets 116 onto the conveyor. Casting lugs 140 on the castings are then engaged by lugs 142 on conveyor chains 144-to transfer the castings along the conveyor from the machine to a trimming mechanism (not shown). Chains 144 are mounted between shafts 146 and 148 at the ends of the conveyor and driven by motor 10 by a suitable drive chain (not shown). The castings are cooled as they travel along the conveyor by Water flowing from openings 150 to drain holes 152 in slightly inclined sections 154 and 156 of the conveyor (FIG.7). Further cooling (by the air) is facilitated by corrugated sections 158 and 160 over which the castings travel after they leave water cooled sections 154 and 156, respectively. 7

The operation of casting units A and B is synchronized by the single prime mover (motor 10) which drives cam shafts 16 and 18 of units A and B, respectively, whereby the molds of each unit are alternately poured and the castings discharged therefrom are alternately carried to the 154 and 156 on which the castings are deposited are spaced with respect to the speed of chains 144 so that the castings deposited by the units will be evenly spaced along the conveyor as they are transferred from the machine to the trimmer.

Although 'but one embodiment of the present inven tion has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent claims.

We claim: 1. An automatic casting machine including a plurality of casting units, each having a sectional mold adapted to be closed for pouring and opened for discharge of a casting therefrom, comprising, a reservoir for each mold adapted to hold liquid, means for maintaining a constant liquid level in said reservoirs, an outlet in each reservoir above the level of the liquid therein, an unconfined dis-l placement member movable within each reservoir adapted to raise the liquid level and cause a quantity vof liquid to pour from each outlet into the respective molds, mold actuating means for each mold adapted to open each mold after the pour and close each mold after the discharge of \a casting therefrom, conveyor means for carrying the castings from the machine, carrier means for each mold adapted to receive the castings from the molds and carry them to said conveyor means for deposit thereon, and actuating means including a plurality of cams. mounted on a cam shaft for each unit driven by a single prime mover, said actuatingmeans adapted to actuate said displacement members, mold actuating means.

2. Apparatus for pouring a mold comprising, a reservoir'fcr holding liquid, a pouring outlet in said reservoir,

The cooling sections an unconfined displacement member movable in said reservoir, means for reciprocating said member with respect to the surface of the liquid in said reservoir to momentarily raise the level of the liquid and cause a quantity of liquid to pour from said outlet into a mold, and means for maintaining a constant liquid level in said reservoir so that each time said member is reciprocated a given distance with respect to the liquid level a given amount of liquid will be caused to pour from said outlet.

3. Apparatus for pouring a mold comprising, a reservoir for holding liquid and adapted to receive a continuous supply of liquid from a source, controlled outlet means for said reservoir adapted to permit a continuous flow of liquid from said reservoir and thereby maintain a constant liquid level in said reservoir, a pouring outlet in said reservoir located at a higher elevation than said controlled outlet means, an unconfined displacement member movable in said reservoir, and means for reciprocating said member with respect to the surface of the liquid in said reservoir to momentarily raise the level of the liquid and thereby cause a given quantity of liquid to pour from said pouring outlet into a mold each time said member is reciprocated a given distance with respect to the liquid level.

4. Apparatus for pouring a mold comprising, a reservoir for holding liquid and adapted to receive a continuous supply of liquid from a source, controlled outlet means for said reservoir adapted to allow a continuous flow of liquid from said reservoir and thereby maintain a constant liquid level in said reservoir, a pouring outlet in said reservoir located at a higher elevation than said controlled means, an unconfined displacement member movable in said reservoir, and means for reciprocating said displacement member with respect to the surface of the liquid in said reservoir to momentarily raise the level of the liquid and thereby cause a given quantity of liquid to pour from said pouring outlet into a mold each time said member is reciprocated a given distance with respect to the liquid level, said controlled outlet means including an adjustable weir over which liquid from said reservoir will continuously flow to thereby maintain a constant liquid level in said reservoir.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which there is a vertical bafiie extending into said liquid on either side of said displacement member, said 'baflles adapted to block surface flow to said pouring outlet and to localize the change in level caused by the movement of said displacement member.

6. Apparatus for pouring a plurality of molds comprising, a reservoir for each mold adapted to hold liquid and to receive a continuous supply of liquid from a single source, controlled outlet means for each reservoir adapted to permit a continuous flow of liquid from said reservoirs to thereby maintain a constant liquid level in each of said reservoirs, a pouring outlet in each of said reservoirs located at a higher elevation than the controlled outlet means for such reservoirs, an unconfined displacement member movable in each of said reservoirs, means for reciprocating said members with respect to the surface of the liquid in said reservoirs to momentarily raise the level of the liquid and thereby cause a given quantity of liquid to pour from each of said pouring outlets into a mold each time said members are reciprocated a given distance with respect to the liquid levels, and thermostatically controlled heating elements for each reservoir to provide individual temperature control for each reservoir and thereby enable the pouring of various size castings in each of the plurality of molds.

7. An automatic casting machine including a sectional mold adapted to be closed for pouring andopened for discharge of a casting therefrom comprising, a reservoir for holding liquid, a pouring outlet in said reservoir, an unconfined displacement member movable in said reservoir, means for reciprocating said member with respect to the surface of the liquid in said reservoir to momentarily raise the level of the liquid and cause a quantity of liquid to pour from said outlet into a mold, means for maintaining a constant liquid level in said reservoir so that each time said member is reciprocated a given distance with respect to the liquid level a given amount of liquid will pour from said outlet, mold actuating means for opening said mold after the pour and for closing the mold after a casting is discharged therefrom, and receiving means for receiving castings from the mold and transmitting them from the machine. 7

8. An automatic molding machine according to claim 7 in which said receiving means includes a conveyor and a swingable carrier member adapted to receive the castings discharged from the mold and to deposit them on said conveyor.

9. An automatic molding machine according to claim 7 in which said displacement member, mold actuating and receiving means are actuated by cams mounted on a rotating shaft.

10. An automatic molding machine according to claim 8 in which said receiving means further includes a plurality of spaced stationary fingers adapted to engage the casting as it is being carried to the conveyor by said carrier member to thereby deposit the casting on the conveyor.

11. An automatic molding machine according to claim 8 in which said receiving means further includes. cooling means for introducing liquid coolant onto the castings as they travel along the conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,438 Thompson Mar. 13, 1900 1,220,211 Feldkamp et al Mar. 27, 1917 1,623,997 Catlin Apr. 12, 1927 1,840,517 Marlatt Jan. 12, 1932 1,868,694 Coghlan July 26, 1932 1,983,580 Nock Dec. .11, 1934 1,985,893 Goodrich Jan. 1, 1935 2,025,030 Ford Dec. 24, 1935 2,060,137 Bahney Nov. 10, 1936 2,563,843 Johnston Aug. 14, 1951 2,660,769 Bennett Dec. 1, 1953 2,762,094 Vieth Sept. 11, 1956 2,770,021 Harter Nov. 13, 1956 2,890,951 Roy June 16, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 688,404 Great Britain Mar. 4, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Allis-Chahners Electrical Review, First Quarter, 1947, pp. 14 through 17. 

